DragonCon 2008

[conbot]

Is anyone going to DragonCon this year? I'll be posting on some other forums to see who is going.

[conbot]

For those of you who don't know, DragonCon is a general Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention in Atlanta. This year, it's being held August 29 - September 1.
http://www.dragoncon.org/

[Omegus Prime]

It's possible I'll be there, but Metrocon's going to take a good chunk of change first and Dragoncon's farther away. If I can find a place to crash and avoid a hotel cost, I'll probably go.

[shibamura_prime]

I'll be there. I'm gonna be the photographer for the Final Fantasy/Kingdom Hearts cosplay shoot and avoiding crazy Buffy TVS fans as much as possible.

[Tekkaman Blade]

I'm there every year, it's only 40min away from me.

[Deefuzz]

Is there any other reason to go besides looking at cosplay people?

[shibamura_prime]

Is there any other reason to go besides looking at cosplay people?

Unless you really like fan-run panels about Anime, Stargate, and Buffy and waiting in endless lines for overpriced autographs... No, not really.

[Deefuzz]

Unless you really like fan-run panels about Anime, Stargate, and Buffy and waiting in endless lines for overpriced autographs... No, not really.

Damn it! I need another convention to buy toys and comics at that isn't 12 hours or more away!

[shibamura_prime]

Damn it! I need another convention to buy toys and comics at that isn't 12 hours or more away!

Well, the dealer's room isn't half bad when it comes to comics. Since it's all local dealers, you can get some really good deals. It sucks when it comes to toys, though. Most of the dealers are stocking up on Anime figures nowadays.

For the last two years the guys and gals who run DragonCon held the Atlanta Comics Expo in April, but a few weeks ago they announced that this was their last year doing it. Sucks because it was a nice little con.

[Deefuzz]

Well, the dealer's room isn't half bad when it comes to comics. Since it's all local dealers, you can get some really good deals. It sucks when it comes to toys, though. Most of the dealers are stocking up on Anime figures nowadays.

For the last two years the guys and gals who run DragonCon held the Atlanta Comics Expo in April, but a few weeks ago they announced that this was their last year doing it. Sucks because it was a nice little con.

Damn. Thanks for the info bud.

I'll find something! It's only been a few weeks since Wizard World Chicago and I am needing another convention fix. But I need a good selection of toys.

[shibamura_prime]

Damn. Thanks for the info bud.

I'll find something! It's only been a few weeks since Wizard World Chicago and I am needing another convention fix. But I need a good selection of toys.

Atlanta runs some decent toy cons from time to time. Master Collector sponsors Joelanta every year. I haven't ever been myself, but I hear it's pretty much one big dealer's room and nothing else: http://www.joelanta.com/

[hockeygamer40]

Is anyone going to DragonCon this year? I'll be posting on some other forums to see who is going.

I'm going for the first time ever. I'll be bringing stuff to get autographed as well as bringing some items to buy/sell/trade. No booth, just going as an individual.

Ended up with a motel reservation that's a bit far from the convention, but it's a lot cheaper than most hotels and motels near the show -- and not completely booked yet! Hoping that MARTA will be worth dealing with.

Drop me a line if you want to get together !

[Tekkaman Blade]

Marta isn't bad I take it every year(cheaper than paying for parking) The con is pretty good and has a decent guest list this year. The dealer room can vary depending on how well the year went for most of the sellers. It's at the end of the year too so a lot of stock is gone. But it's a good con, unfortunately each year it moves further away from comics and becomes more of a fantasy con. The ticket prices seem to go up every year to keep up with the bigger guest they are booking. If you can be sure to catch the parade. Check ut the guest list this year they have a good variety. From Stacy Keach(Mike Hammer) to Sulu and chekov

[squirrelcar]

I'll be down the street. No interest in attending, but if TFW folks'll be out drinking, PM me.

[conbot]

Unless you really like fan-run panels about Anime, Stargate, and Buffy and waiting in endless lines for overpriced autographs... No, not really.

Heh... last year I forgot to pre-register, and had to wait in a 5 hour-long line.

[conbot]

I'm going for the first time ever. I'll be bringing stuff to get autographed as well as bringing some items to buy/sell/trade. No booth, just going as an individual.

Ended up with a motel reservation that's a bit far from the convention, but it's a lot cheaper than most hotels and motels near the show -- and not completely booked yet! Hoping that MARTA will be worth dealing with.

Drop me a line if you want to get together !

Last year, I went with a friend. We somehow managed to find parking at one of the Peachtree Center's overpriced garages. I have taken marta many times into Atlanta, although it may not be the best idea if you plan on buying tons of stuff. Peachtree Center station is directly attached to the peachtree center, which has ped bridges to the Hyatt and Marquis Tower 1 (which continues right on to the marriott.

[conbot]

Marta isn't bad I take it every year(cheaper than paying for parking) The con is pretty good and has a decent guest list this year. The dealer room can vary depending on how well the year went for most of the sellers. It's at the end of the year too so a lot of stock is gone. But it's a good con, unfortunately each year it moves further away from comics and becomes more of a fantasy con. The ticket prices seem to go up every year to keep up with the bigger guest they are booking. If you can be sure to catch the parade. Check ut the guest list this year they have a good variety. From Stacy Keach(Mike Hammer) to Sulu and chekov

At DragonCon '07, I was very disappointed with the TF offerings. Last February, I went to a comics expo that's run by DragonCon that had an okay amount of TF stuff - so it really can vary.

[Brawlastator]

I remember I used to go and see the parade every year. I'm actually going to go this year. (Yay!)

[hockeygamer40]

At DragonCon '07, I was very disappointed with the TF offerings. Last February, I went to a comics expo that's run by DragonCon that had an okay amount of TF stuff - so it really can vary.

I'm really going to see some alternative sci-fi fare. I am hoping to get folks interested that the TransFans are as important as the Trekkie/Trekker fans.

The big surprise is which will outlast the other. :)

[Voiceroy]

I'm really going to see some alternative sci-fi fare. I am hoping to get folks interested that the TransFans are as important as the Trekkie/Trekker fans.I think it was Dragon*Con '06 that they did a TF fan panel discussion--mostly movie spoilers and pics of the classics line. I left after the first 10 minutes because: 1) I got tired of standing in the tiny, overcrowded room; 2) the moderator had kind of a snarky, sarcastic tone to his voice that irritated me. Also, it was about as entertaining as viewing a fan message board discussion live.

I won't decide if I'm going until they publish the con schedule--last year, they didn't have enough to interest me to justify getting a 4-day pass. I've forgotten two years straight to apply in advance as an attending professional and I keep missing the deadline.

Last year there was a serious TF toy draught. If Stylin' Online hadn't been there, I would've come home practically empty-handed. I got a fantastic deal on a few TF busts/statues, but didn't find a single toy I was interested in buying.

If I do go, I'm planning to load my car down with stuff from my collection that I want to get rid of and trade for some new additions.

And even if I don't go, I'd be up for a TFW meet so please keep us updated here.

[shibamura_prime]

I think it was Dragon*Con '06 that they did a TF fan panel discussion--mostly movie spoilers and pics of the classics line. I left after the first 10 minutes because: 1) I got tired of standing in the tiny, overcrowded room; 2) the moderator had kind of a snarky, sarcastic tone to his voice that irritated me. Also, it was about as entertaining as viewing a fan message board discussion live.

I won't decide if I'm going until they publish the con schedule--last year, they didn't have enough to interest me to justify getting a 4-day pass. I've forgotten two years straight to apply in advance as an attending professional and I keep missing the deadline.

Last year there was a serious TF toy draught. If Stylin' Online hadn't been there, I would've come home practically empty-handed. I got a fantastic deal on a few TF busts/statues, but didn't find a single toy I was interested in buying.

If I do go, I'm planning to load my car down with stuff from my collection that I want to get rid of and trade for some new additions.

And even if I don't go, I'd be up for a TFW meet so please keep us updated here.

I remember that panel. Sounds like we had the same impression, and I think I stuck around for just as long as you did. From what I understand those guys are running a similar panel this year, so at least I know what to steer clear of now. XD

And I'm planning on arrive to D*Con on Thursday, so I'd be up for an Atlanta get together.

[Tekkaman Blade]

I remember that panel. Sounds like we had the same impression, and I think I stuck around for just as long as you did. From what I understand those guys are running a similar panel this year, so at least I know what to steer clear of now. XD

And I'm planning on arrive to D*Con on Thursday, so I'd be up for an Atlanta get together.

That panel is run by a bunch of know it all fanboys. The onger you stay the worse it got.

[Tekkaman Blade]

[quote=shibamura_prime;2306089]I remember that panel. Sounds like we had the same impression, and I think I stuck around for just as long as you did. From what I understand those guys are running a similar panel this year, so at least I know what to steer clear of now. XD

Anyone wants to meet you can Pm me.

[conbot]

Hmm... this time I did pre-register. Those lines drive me completely insane. I have not been to a TF Fan panel at d-con, although I'd still give it a try if there is one this year.

[hockeygamer40]

And even if I don't go, I'd be up for a TFW meet so please keep us updated here.

My laptop was stolen today so I won't have direct access during the event. Thus -- this includes any TFW2005 member that may want to get together -- set it up before the show starts or contact by email.

[Spoiler]

Went last year, had a blast! This year, will be even better. I plan to bring more alkyhol!!! Better than spending $9 on a drink at the hotel bar! So, if you see a drunken zombie pilot, or a drunken former commador walking around...it is probably just me.

[Voiceroy]

Well, I was going to try finding a good eating-type place near the con, and I just discovered that if you didn't already know where Dragon*Con was, you would have a very difficult time finding it with any help from their website.

Nowhere on the front page or anywhere on the site does it specifically mention where the primary venue is. Even on the Location/Travel page the farking "Convention Maps" is just a list of ALL the area hotels. There are three hotels mentioned on the beginning of that same page, but which one is the main one?

That's got to be the dumbest oversight you could make with a convention website.

So can someone help me out and tell me which hotel is the primary con location so I can try finding us a good hang-out that's fairly close?

[Spoiler]

The Hyatt is the main hotel. Registration is there as well.

But word of warning...this happened last year. Watch out for the Photography Nazis at the Hyatt, yes the don't allow photographing in the lower areas it seems of the hotel...don't ask me why, I don't know, but we had fun with that...
like my friend...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/mitthrawnuruondo/dragoncon2007091.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/mitthrawnuruondo/dragoncon2007069.jpg

Yes I see the time..but it was actually enforced all day... also, they actually had a lot of troubles last year, where they wouldn't let people into the hotel because of too many in there...even if you had a room there.

As for food venues, there is a Hooters right down the street. Right around the corner there is also STATS Restaurant.

[Voiceroy]

Okay, now I want to go just to hang out with Spoiler.

Nothing makes a bland con better than hanging out with someone who makes their own fun.

I have a pic of me from D*C 2006 laying like Slave Leia on a lifesize Jabba statue licking his face. (Wish I could link to it, sorry.) I probably would've gotten in trouble for it if a con staff member had seen me violating the thing.

Thanks for the venue info too.

If Hooters' food didn't suck so badly, I'd say we go there. (Everyone knows you don't go to Hooters for the cuisine.) I've never been to STATS, but from the looks of their site it appears to be like a more upscale version of ESPN Zone and Hooters. That might be cool.

I looked up a d'town restaurant guide and also found Ray's In The City and Olympia Prime in that area, but those look like they might be a little upscale since they both require reservations. Wherever we decide on needs to be fairly close since some of us may be hoofing it, as they say. But I'm fine with STATS for now.

Do we want to go ahead and pick a day/time to meet, or wait for D*C to publish the schedule so we don't have any potential conflicts?

[conbot]

Well there's also a Hard Rock cafe nearby, in addition to the SunDial at the Westin (which is about $25-30 per person) and many more restaurants. The Hyatt was probably the most chaotic place in the whole con. Thankfully, they added the Sheraton this year as a host hotel. According to the d-con website, the fire marshall is the one to blame for prohibited photography at the Hyatt.

[conbot]

Well, I was going to try finding a good eating-type place near the con, and I just discovered that if you didn't already know where Dragon*Con was, you would have a very difficult time finding it with any help from their website.

Nowhere on the front page or anywhere on the site does it specifically mention where the primary venue is. Even on the Location/Travel page the farking "Convention Maps" is just a list of ALL the area hotels. There are three hotels mentioned on the beginning of that same page, but which one is the main one?

That's got to be the dumbest oversight you could make with a convention website.

So can someone help me out and tell me which hotel is the primary con location so I can try finding us a good hang-out that's fairly close?

The Marriott would probably the center, although the con's HQ and lounge are at the Hyatt. Both are connected via skywalks (in the Marriott, you have to go to the Atrium Level, and follow signs for the Marquis One Tower - then cross over) to the Peachtree Center, which has a pretty large food court. You should look here on google maps: [link] (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Atlanta,+GA&ie=UTF8&ll=33.760374,-84.385664&spn=0.004067,0.006909&t=h&z=17)

There are quite a few nice restaurants within a 2 minute walk of d-con. If you want a quick lunch, GO TO THE PEACHTREE CENTER. I made the mistake last year of eating at the Hilton. It was $15 for a small lunch, and that did not include a can of Red Bull (I had so many there, not to mention all the free energy drinks in the lounge).

[Spoiler]

Okay, now I want to go just to hang out with Spoiler.


Making my own fun is great! Hanging out with me is a blast. If you wanna search for me saturday, I will be dressed as a Zombie Rebel pilot, with a blue, white and red helmet.

[Voiceroy]

Making my own fun is great! Hanging out with me is a blast. If you wanna search for me saturday, I will be dressed as a Zombie Rebel pilot, with a blue, white and red helmet.Saturday and Sunday are probably the only days I will go unless something on the con schedule persuades me otherwise.

If I'm there Saturday, I'll probably be wearing my Decepticon hockey jersey from Stylin' Online.

So instead of picking a specific restaurant, do we just want to name a central location and time and we'll decide on the restaurant from there? Saturday or Sunday night?

[Tekkaman Blade]

My laptop was stolen today so I won't have direct access during the event. Thus -- this includes any TFW2005 member that may want to get together -- set it up before the show starts or contact by email.

I'll have my Laptop at the event. Though if I can get internet or not remains to be seen.

[conbot]

I'll also have my laptop there. I'll probably be wearing a red t-shirt that says "Varsity Physics", with a green backpack. I'm probably going to go Saturday through Monday.

[conbot]

Let's meet somewhere at the Hyatt (since it's pretty much the center of d-con) near the elevators on the Lobby Level in the evening, and head over from there. The SunDial would be a good restaurant (about $25 per person), but if it's full we could go somewhere else.

[colley]

I'll be there Thursday-Monday.
Going to be marching in the parade with the Doctor Who group. (WHOO! Movie-Seventh Doctor! (http://solfire.com/~colleyd/stuff/doc-cosplay/doc7a.jpg))

And what's the deal with the No Photography in those parts of the hotel?

[conbot]

I also started a thread on the allspark forums in case anyone's interested: DragonCon 2008 - anyone going? - The Allspark Forums (http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49659)

[Voiceroy]

Well, the schedule's finally up, but it's so @#$%ing hard to read.

I've decided to go all 4 days, especially since my wife is going to be out of town with her mom and sister all weekend and I don't want to be sitting at home all weekend by myself.

I might also be interested for splitting a room with someone possibly Friday and/or Saturday night, if someone is staying in one of the downtown hotels and wants a roomie to help save them some $$$. (Can't room with a smoker though, sorry.)

As for meeting up, Saturday evening/night seems like it might be a good option. There's a panel at 5:30P on Saturday I think I might go to, but I won't decide yet until I actually have the schedule in hand.

So how does meeting between 7:30-8pm at Hyatt lobby location conbot suggested sound to everyone? Or would more people be interested in meeting another evening instead?

[conbot]

I think 7:30-8pm Saturday will work. Where did you find the schedule? I haven't been able to find it on d-con's website.

[Voiceroy]

I think 7:30-8pm Saturday will work. Where did you find the schedule? I haven't been able to find it on d-con's website.What did I say about it being difficult to navigate?

The most recent update there mentions the "Pocket Program". It would have been much more helpful to call it a SCHEDULE like all the other cons do.

Linkage: Welcome to Dragon*Con! (http://publications.dragoncon.org/index.htm)

Scroll down to the Schedule Grids and Panel Descriptions.

The schedule grid thing is practically useless, or else I just don't have a clue how Google Spreadsheets work. Or maybe they're best viewed in something besides Firefox. Either way, the way they're set up, you can only read the first few words of the panel description.

And don't even get me started on the Panel Descriptions. It's just one big messy data dump.

At any rate, I vote for Saturday btw 7:30-8PM too.

And if there are any takers on the roomie query, please PM me and I'll get you my cellphone number. My house is in Barrow County, and it's about an hour's drive to the con. Plus I'll have to pay for parking and finding a parking spot's always a nightmare unless you get there at 5AM. It already sucks that I'm having to pay for admission because I neglected to apply as an attending professional or for a media pass, so any other expense I can cut out would be great.

[Spoiler]

Well, I am due to leave for Dragoncon in about 13 hours...yes, that means 3am!

[Brawlastator]

Anybody gonna dress up? I might go as Snake-Eyes, either him or a pirate.

[Tekkaman Blade]

I don't dress up.

[conbot]

I see only one TF panel, entitled "Transformers Too" on Saturday at 10 am in the Courtland room at the Hilton.

[conbot]

I'll probably be wearing a red "Varsity Physics" or an off-white Optimus Prime t-shirt.

[Voiceroy]

I don't dress up.Me neither, except at Halloween or anytime I'm playing some character in a stage show.

I'm going to pass on the TF fan panel. I think I'd much rather watch the parade than a panel of fanboys discussing stuff that I'd rather read online.

Also, Adam West and George Lowe are Grand Marshals for the parade. I don't want to miss that.

I guess since it's down to less than a day now until Dragon*Con we'll just go with meeting Saturday between 7:30-8P in the Hyatt lobby. As I mentioned earlier, I'll probably be wearing my Decepticon Jersey. If not, I'll be holding up a sign that says TFW FTW!!! And if only a few show up, that's still cool.

Safe journeys to you all, and I'll see you guys there!

[Tekkaman Blade]

At the con right now, just picked up badge(line was rediculous) I'm using peachtree center's internet. Now I'm going home nothing to do till tomorrow.

[conbot]

I was just there! I was heading home from school, and stopped by to get my badge. I simply turned around when I saw the wall of people surrounding the Hyatt. You might have seen me there, I did enter through the Peachtree Center (I was in a school uniform).

[conbot]

I'm in marching band :banghead: , so I can't go on Friday, and I won't get as much sleep in for Saturday.

[Tekkaman Blade]

I was in tha wall of people for about 45minutes to an hour. I got there about 4:03.

[conbot]

I got there at about 5:00, and the line went around the side facing the Marriott, all the way to peachtree street.

[shibamura_prime]

I arrived yesterday afternoon, so PM me if any 2005'ers wanna meet up this weekend.

[conbot]

I think the time everyone agreed to meet is on Saturday at 7:30-8:00 PM in the lobby of the Hyatt (near the elevators). I'm stuck in school now :banghead: so I can't be there until Saturday, but I'll have my laptop with me. Speaking of laptops, who all will have on there?

[Tekkaman Blade]

I will but the router at peachtree center (free) is out. It's 10 buck at the hotels perday.

[Voiceroy]

I got to the con around 1pm Friday and it took me nearly 90 minutes to get through registration. Why the @#$% they turned off online Ticketmaster purchases right before the con blows my mind. I heard dozens of people complaining about it, and I gave one of the con staff an earful about it too. But what was sad is that people who had pre-registered were still having to wait in line as long as 30 minutes and more to pick up their badges. D*C is one of the worst organized conventions I've ever been to.

Anyway, I saw a few guys wearing TF shirts, but I didn't recognize IDs on the badges, so I don't know if they were any of you guys or not.

I had a blast at the adult swim panel--got me an [as] con-exclusive t-shirt, and one of the panelists gave me her dragon pinata hat. If any of you are interested, I wrote a con panel report for toonzone.net--should be published on the homepage there shortly. And I'll be writing a few more articles about the con with pics added too at ToonZone over the next week.

If you live around the ATL and you're driving in Saturday - Monday AM, LEAVE FOR THE CON AS EARLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. They're doing construction in that area and 75/85 will be closed down to ONE LANE all @#$%ing weekend. And parking's going to be a nightmare anyway.

Why they couldn't pick ANY other weekend besides @#$%ing Labor Day to shut the interstate down for construction is way beyond my knowledge.

See you guys Saturday 7:30ish.